A Stunning Upset: How Benfica Overcame Real Madrid

Achieving firsts has become a rarity for José Mourinho in the later stages of his extensive and often tumultuous career.

However, a remarkable moment unfolded on Wednesday night in Lisbon, thanks to Anatoly Trubin.

For Benfica, merely defeating the 15-time European champions, Real Madrid, wasn’t sufficient. With the clock ticking into extra time, they held a precarious 3-2 lead but required another goal to secure their Champions League future.

A free-kick presented a final opportunity, prompting goalkeeper Trubin to surge forward. Moments later, chaos erupted at Estadio da Luz as Benfica players raced in every direction, culminating in Trubin’s euphoric knee slide after he scored the pivotal goal with a powerful header.

“A fantastic goal, a historic goal, a goal that nearly brought the whole stadium down – and I think it was very deserved for us,” Mourinho remarked.

“For Benfica, it’s an incredible prestige to beat Real Madrid.”

Given the unique league setup, where all 18 teams play simultaneously on the final matchday, it’s understandable that Trubin was initially uncertain about his team’s needs. They were poised to exit based on goal difference at the conclusion of the eight-round league phase until his extraordinary intervention turned the tide. Marseille found themselves the unfortunate casualties, losing their playoff spot as Benfica seized the opportunity.

Just moments before scoring, Trubin had knelt on the ground after catching a cross, seemingly trying to waste time to secure the victory, oblivious to the fact that Benfica would still be eliminated as the situation stood.

“Before, I didn’t understand what we needed,” Trubin reflected. “I see everyone start to point at me and I go, and after I see [I can go forward]. We need one more goal. I don’t know, I don’t know what to say. A crazy moment. I am not used to scoring, so for me, it was something completely new. I am 24 years old and for me, it’s the first time.”

A Significant Victory as Mourinho Relied on Trubin’s Potential

Since his return to Benfica in September, Mourinho has faced challenges settling in. Upon his appointment—25 years after his initial brief tenure—there was skepticism about whether ‘The Special One’ could still deliver, given his age.

Fast-forward four and a half months, Benfica remains unbeaten in the league but lags third, trailing Porto by a staggering 10 points, who have accumulated 55 out of a potential 57 points. The likelihood of Mourinho adding a ninth league title to his accolades appears exceedingly slim.

In European competitions, the team faltered in their first four matches of the league phase, and victories over Ajax and Napoli seemed insufficient after suffering a loss in their penultimate match.

Moreover, they exited the domestic cup after a quarter-final defeat to Porto, where Mourinho first made his mark more than two decades ago. Ironically, that match on January 14 served as a preparatory experience for Trubin’s subsequent Champions League heroics.

“We knew he could do it,” Mourinho told UEFA. “In the game at the Dragao, Trubin was also there in the final action and headed it, but a Porto player blocked it.”

This time, the Ukrainian made no mistakes, executing a perfectly timed run and a superb header that salvaged Benfica’s European aspirations.

“It’s massive for Mourinho because things haven’t really gone according to plan since he took over from Bruno Lage in September,” noted European football expert Julien Laurens. “To win tonight in that fashion was a compelling narrative. Facing Real Madrid, his former club, and Alvaro Arbeloa, whom he mentored and considers like a son, added to the drama.”

“Looking at the results, it’s quite incredible. They started so poorly, and after Leverkusen at home, we thought that was it, but there was still some fight left in them, which we witnessed today in that miracle.”

A Potential Rematch with Madrid or an Encounter with Inter Awaits

For Mourinho, conquering Madrid stands out as a cherished accomplishment.

“Winning against Real Madrid holds significant importance. In that moment, we had to give it everything,” Mourinho stated.

During his three-season tenure at the Bernabeu from 2010 to 2013, the former Chelsea manager engaged in fierce competition with Pep Guardiola’s formidable Barcelona, ultimately securing La Liga in the 2011-12 season.

Guardiola remained attentive to the unfolding narrative of Mourinho’s latest chapter, as he and his Manchester City players hoped Benfica would maintain their lead to guarantee a top-eight finish.

“We didn’t know Benfica needed a goal to qualify, so when the goalkeeper goes up, we questioned, ‘Why are you going?’ because Madrid could equalize, and we would be out,” Guardiola said after City’s victory against Galatasaray. “But it was a good strategy for Jose to score the fourth goal, right?”

While another clash with Guardiola may be postponed, having just secured his inaugural victory over Los Blancos, Mourinho stands a good chance of facing them again in February.

With Arbeloa’s team finishing ninth in the league phase and Benfica in 24th, there’s a 50% likelihood of a matchup in the playoff round. Alternatively, Benfica could face Inter Milan, with whom Mourinho famously secured the Champions League during a historic treble in 2010.

“I can’t say I prefer one or the other because going to Madrid excites me, and I’ve never been there; going to Milan also excites me, and I haven’t gone there either,” Mourinho expressed.

Regardless of the opponent Benfica draws, few would dismiss Mourinho’s potential to orchestrate something remarkable at either the Bernabeu or San Siro. Yet surpassing the magic of Trubin’s unforgettable moment may prove a formidable challenge, even for Mourinho’s imaginative storytellers.

Catch highlights of every Champions League match from 22:00 on Wednesday on the respective streaming platforms, as well as on the sports website and app. There will also be an exclusive Champions League Match of the Day on Wednesday from 22:40 to 00:00.